By Nancy Covert
Steilacoom’s Garden Club, in partnership with the Town of Steilacoom, began another garden spot makeover this past Tuesday.
Workers from the Cedar Creek Corrections facility dismantled the garden plot next to the Bair Store that’s stood there for more than 25 years, replacing the railroad ties with concrete pavers. The garden spot is located at the intersection of Wilkes and Lafayette streets, across from the Tennis Courts.
Landscaper Tom Jacobsen designed the garden and contributed time replanting the site that’s provided a colorful oasis in downtown Steilacoom for more than two decades.
The refreshed site is expected to be ready by Apple Squeeze Sunday, Oct. 6, said Garden Club spokeswoman Lenore Rogers.
“We wanted to renovate the area and make it easier to maintain,” she added. Throughout the year more than a dozen garden club members keep the site filled with seasonal flowers and shrubs.
Overseeing the garden is the “spirit” of Scarecrow Sue, a wrought iron figure created several years ago to honor Sue Davidson, a former Garden Club member, who instituted the annual scarecrow festival, which extends through October.
(Rumor has it that the 2013 crop of scarecrows, crafted by Steilacoom High School Key Cub members, will appear around town by the end of this week).
Two years ago, the Garden Club arranged for a site at the corner of Starling and Puyallup/Steilacoom Blvd. to be replanted. Proceeds from the annual May Plant Sale pay for the hanging flower baskets, and the festive holiday door swags.